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I’m an Aussie (from one of the warmer, sunnier parts of the country) who has just moved to the UK and am having a clothing crisis!I always knew I would have to get a proper winter wardrobe when I got here, but I wasn’t expecting to be so overwhelmed by options. I have no idea where to start and don’t want to waste hundreds of pounds on clothes that turn out to be completely impractical. I’ve never even owned a winter jacket before, so some advice would be really really appreciated…
What are your winter staples? What should I look for in a jacket? And shoes (boots?)? Please help! -Arlina
I feel your pain so hard, Arlina! I recently took a long trip to the UK, and this California girl was ill-prepared and often soaking wet… until I finally went shopping for a proper rain jacket. I probably needed something more substantial than the thin jacket that I got, but I decided to just layer my clothing, instead of invest $$$ in something I wouldn’t ever need, once back home.
But what happens when your home becomes a much much colder climate than you’re used to?
Homies who live in colder climates, what would you recommend to a cold weather newbie?
In addition to jacket, during the winter I always have a pair of basic GLOVES, simple flannel SCARF, and knitted HAT. They can prove essential when standing out in the cold a little too long, and can all be stuffed into the hat and thrown into my bag. I also am a fan of a small UMBRELLA to keep off rain or snow (as long as it’s not windy); damp clothes equals getting colder faster.
Oh, also, consider the temperature at your destination. My office work place is usually on the warm side (in my opinion). Sweaters and thick tights may keep me warm on the commute but leave me sweating at my computer. During the winter I often wear wellies to walk to work and then switch to flats I keep under my desk.
I guess in summary, it’s gonna take some experimenting. Hope you enjoy your new home! 🙂
I’m in Italy, so our winters are probably not as rainy, but can get quite cold!
I’m lazy when it comes to clothing, especially in winter. My basic rule is to never put anything synthetic in contact with my skin, since it makes me sweat (and subsequently freeze. And stink.) I’d normally wear a cotton camisole, long sleeved cotton t shirt (my current ones are almost all from h&m and they’re cheap and decent quality) and a sweater. It can be thicker or lighter, cardi or pullover, according to the temperature. I try to get wool or a blend with as little synthetic as possible.
I like to wear jeans or other cotton trousers of comparable thickness. When i wear a skirt i wear thick microfiber tights.
Otherwise, just cotton socks just below my knee.
I try to get good quality leather shoes – no need for boots unless it’s raining very hard.
I have a down winter jacket that i wear from November to March normally, and a couple lighter ones for spring and autumn. The winter one should be long enough to comfortably cover your butt when you sit. It’s really uncomfortable to sit somewhere cold.
I prefer to have a hood instead of wearing a bonnet, and i always keep gloves in my pockets. Leather ones are great. Poly blends unfortunately make my hands sweat quite often.
Lastly, a piece of advice from someone who studied in Venice: when it rains and you have to walk, preferably wear skirt, tights and boots instead of long pants. Pants can get wet up to your knees and get very uncomfortable. Tights dry quicker and you can always keep a spare pair with you if you’re out all day.
I live in the Highlands of Scotland and it does get pretty darn cold and snowy (not like New England/Canada, but the Scottish version 😉 ) in the part I live in. Hey just had our two days of summer too , hitting a high of 23C and feeling hot as hell because we’re just not used to any heat!
So yeah, the damp cold is gross and yucky. Me, I like thick cardigans and thick socks. I love my waxed Barbour jacket. I like my Gore-tex waterproof shoes from Hotter. I like my really colourful hat that I bought at a festival that I think is just woven wool, but it’s waterproof. I love slippers in my house. I love snuggling up to my radiator of a husband at night so I don’t need a hot water bottle. But if he’s not there, I love my hot water bottle. And well there’s always whisky to keep me warm 😉 . Oh that’s not clothing. But you can carry it in a hip flask!
note to self: acquire hipflask 😉
Looks like most things have been covered, but a couple more good tips:
1. Wool! it will keep you warm and dry without being too bulky. I love wool blend socks, mittens, and scarves. But wool anything is good.
2. Convertible mittens. This is a preference thing, but mittens are warmer than gloves, and I love the ones where the end pulls back to get your fingers out. Great for phone use, obviously, but who can handle anything small (keys? hello!) with mittens on?
Wait, Megan – the boots in that photo. Details, please!
Oh hey! Those are the waterproof boots I bought for a trip to Iceland that never happened. They’ve been amazing for other travels to cold and rainy places though.
My advice is – ask the locals! I recently moved from one cold part of Canada to a completely different cold part of Canada and found my winter needs to be very different.
In the prairies where I grew up, it’s a dry cold that goes down to -35 Celcius, so you need bulky, down-insulated gear and boots up to your knees to keep the snow out.
In Toronto, on Lake Ontario, the cold is less extreme and there’s less snow, but it’s a damp cold and I quickly learned that wool items, as every Torontonian advised me, were the best way to stay warm. That, plus waterproof footwear because it’s likely to be slushy a lot of the time.
TL;DR – the locals know what they’re talking about.
Something waterproof – the weather here doesn’t get that cold on global terms, but the damp, combined with a horrible temperature wavering between -1 and +5, can make you feel freezing no matter what you’re wearing, unless the damp air cannot impregnate it!
Religiously check the weather forecast for the day on some app or other when you get up. This way you are unlikely to get caught out without your umbrella when you need it, and won’t have to take it with you just because ‘it looks like it might rain’. FYI, in certain parts of the UK it looks like it’s going to rain 345 days of the year 😉
Get yourself two different weight scarves. One woollen (or woollen-type) thick one, and one lighter woven/chiffon one with length to it. I lived in Montreal for over a decade before moving back to the UK, and so am used to much colder climes. I therefore find that I rarely need the thicker scarf type, but crikey I’m happy to have it those days when I do! Lighter one can be wrapped around neck, or draped over shoulders, or used to protect from light rain on the day you forgot to check the forecast 😉
If you’re planning on going for long rambling country walks, invest in a pair of wellies (wellington/rubber boots). You don’t need a fancy pair with a posh name and branded welly socks. However, welly socks are pretty ace in the winter, so a browse of Amazon will nab you a cheaper option. Otherwise, if you feel you may want boots for general wear and work/uni/socialising, check the thickness of the lining with your fingers before you buy. Some boots may look great but be really thin – and unless they’re made out of something amazing, that thinness usually equals colder legs and feet.
You will fall in love with tights in a way you never thought was possible. M&S have a lot of good ones that can last a long time. Loads of shops have their own ones too, with patterns and colours and denier galore! (Higher number = thicker weave = warmer, though there are some that use your bodyheat to keep you warm too.)
Hat and/or earmuffs are also handy, as are gloves, but nothing too mental or your mitts will get all sweaty, which is not conducive to warmth!
Winter Silks!!! Those are a brand but any silk long underwear is a must; it’s super thin to wear under your jeans, shirts, etc. I moved to a colder, wetter climate 5 years ago and they’ve been great. My job is often quite cold in the winter as well. The silk long underwear come in different levels of thickness. I run hot so I got the thinnest but I got my husband the “level 5” as he runs cold and he loves them. Just remember not to put them in the dryer, those sleeves will shrink up! Merino wool socks are great! They’re also thin and can be worn in summer or winter.
I can’t think of anything more to add, but as a yooper(a resident of Michigan’s upper peninsula) and a lover of Michigan’s fall weather I feel like there are so many more awesome opportunities to dress cute in the UK! Skirts/tights and nice jackets in the winter time?! I could get on board with that! Good luck!
I’m in the opposite situation — I moved to Southern California after growing up on the East Coast and moving to Canada for university! This is what has kept me warm and dry:
– Waterproof winter coat with enough room for a thick sweater. I got my most recent coat at an army/navy surplus store and it has been great!
– A bunch of scarves, because rain going down the inside of said coat even when it’s buttoned up is no fun.
– Everyone’s gloves and mittens preferences are different, but when I go back, I usually end up using the super cheap stretchy gloves or convertible mittens. However, in colder weather, I go for mittens since they are a little warmer.
– Get a hat that covers your ears, even if you are not a hat person, because it will keep you warmer on really cold days. I have a satin lined slouchy beanie that hasn’t given me hat hair yet!
– Waterproof boots, or ones that you can use waterproofing spray on. I always get flats because I am way too accident prone to be walking in snow and rain in heels.
– Pants that you can tuck into those boots because anything long that skims the ground will inevitably get wet and travel up your leg throughout the day.
– And then layer your clothes! Tights and leggings can go under pants if it’s really cold, long sleeved shirts work well under sweaters, etc. Maybe get a bag big enough to carry layers in throughout the day too.
Good luck in your new home!
Uk citizen here!
Kristens list is good but you might overheat. On a cold winter its major if we go past -7, particularly in the city. The last bad winters we had were 2010 & 2011, but that was for about 2 weeks, max. Snow happens about twice a year, usually between jan and march (usually feb), and might last a couple of days in cities, bit longer in rural areas.
Last year was really mild, we had about a week of snow (march this time) but the rest of the time it felt like september (I.e. not cold, no frost).
Snow is not a major thing here (the snow you see on xmas cards or hear in stories is based on the little iceage which happened during dickens’ childhood) , but rain is,definitely a thing.
You will need:
-decent shoes that dont leak (I have my leather ankle boots, which I have worn all year because it has been quite wet this year!) You can also get away with trainers (sneakers) most of the year. Also a bit of grip is useful if using trains or tube regularly-floors get really skiddy in wet weather, and the tube in particular is terrifying in these conditions (done it on crutches and I was scared!)
– waterproof coat that you can fit a thick jumper (sweater) under
– hat, gloves, scarf (cheap sets will be available in shops from september)
– layers- (this is an all year round thing- the rest of the world have a climate, we however just get weather, which means sun, rain, wind, hale, all in a day, so always take a cardigan and a small umbrella with you everywhere).
I wear summer clothes all year round (brightly coloured dresses) and just add a vest and a couple of extra cardigans for winter.
Also, if you are going to travel by train/public transport NEVER wear themal underwear as they crank the heat up full- I have experience of thinking I was going to die of heat and not being able to take my thermals off because its not socially acceptable to strip off on a crowded train! I must add that this was in 2010 and I honestly dont think thermals are necessary in our climate.
Best shops for layers are:
Primark (very cheap, not great quality, you’ll get a season out of them)
Tesco/sainsburys supermarkets (alright, cheap)
H&m- alright quality (better than primark), still fairly cheap
Next or marks and spencer- good,quality, lasts years (I have a cardigan ive,had for 8 years from m&s)Hope this is useful, and just for reference, I live in the very centre of the uk, london will be warmer, and scotland colder
tl;dr version of what everybody else said: Keep your feet dry and your head warm. Everything else is details.
Another UK resident here!
firstly it depends where you are going to live. I moved from the sunny south coast to Leeds for Uni and my parents said they would buy me a winter coat once I needed it, they got the phone call a week later.
Coats. (I may not be one to talk as I have too many coats…) I would go either a nice woollen coat or a waterproof lined padded coat (I had one in leeds I called my duvet coat). Make sure it covers your bum especially if you are going to need to sit waiting for buses. For Autumn/ spring/ warm winter days consider a Gillet. Fur round hoods gets minging and will stick to your face when it rains. I also have had amazing thick furry lined zip up hoodies which are good when it isn’t quite summer yet/anymore.
Accessories. Knee highsocks under any trousers will be super toasty, consider doubling up if it is really cold. Keep gloves in your coat pocket (I like leather ones with soft lining as they are waterproof). Scarfs, they are cheap, get loads, pashmina types are great as are woolly ones. I particularly love a thick knitted snood I have which requires minimal effort. Keep an umbrella in your hand bag. Hats or headbands which keep your ears warm are also great, but loosely knitted ones can be a bit drafty. I also love earmuffs.
Shoes. In Leeds I lived in leopard print pumps. I also always had very cold feet. Get some nice boots ankle/ calf/ knee high and relatively flat, ideally with grip. Tuck your trousers in them when it is wet (or wear leggings/ tights and skirts). try and get some that you can dress up a bit or down. Ugg boots will get wet and be gross (although there is a Cornish company which makes waterproof ones I am currently lusting after). You probably don’t need full on winter snow boots apart from maybe 1 day a year if you are somewhere cityish
Layers. If your normal outfit is cold chuck a summer vest on underneath, cardigans are ace, as are thin knitted sweaters. tucking tops into trousers will make you way warmer. If it looks like nice weather, take some extra layers just in case!
I’m from NEPA where in recent years it seems like we only get two seasons: Super fucking hot, and super fucking cold with maybe a month of actual nice pleasant weather in between. (minus last winter which was fantastic and barely got below freezing at all).
For super fucking cold season I’m a fan of layering. That way I’m cozy outside but not boiling when I’m inside. My typical work out for that time of year (Oct-March) is a pair of warm pants (ssh, they’re technically sweat pants) and on top I generally do a long sleeve t-shirt underneath a sweater or a dress. Then I put another sweater on top, and if I’m going outside I do a light jacket under my winter coat, and always have a scarf, hat, and pair of gloves. Shoes are my downfall because I’m just not a huge fan of anything bulky so I’ll wear tall socks and dress boots most of the winter but I try to leave a pair of actual waterproof snow boots in my car just in case I slide off the road and have to walk somewhere, or run into a shoveling emergency.
Hi, I live in Atlantic Canada, I love silk long underwear and a full rain suit from LLBean. I wear a parka by WOODS Canada. I live where it gets very very cold. I wear silk under wool sweaters and a giant layer of Down on the outside. Scarves and face protection are a must here. MEC is a company here in Canada with great all weather gear. I buy my sweaters in April-May for good prices. I buy my rain gear in December when it goes on sale. I buy coats for next year for the children in March when they are on sale…To get high quality gear at lower prices I shop in off season, it’s taken years to get my all weather dog walking gear but I’m stuck here in the great white North, LOL. Layering is the best, you can even get waterproof gortex hiking boots. I like wool, merino wool long sleeve under a t-shirt or sweater….this may not help as I’m in a much colder climate…. https://www.mec.ca/en/gender/women%27s/products/clothing/base-layers-and-underwear/base-layer-tops/c/1055
Have fun with it, Kate
Oh my goodness, you guys!!! I felt really silly asking this question, I thought if anyones going to come through for me it’ll be my offbeat homies but you guys have outdone yourselves!!!
After spending the summer travelling around it looks like we will be settling in the Bristol/Bath area so I wont have to worry about the coldest of the cold but all of this is really so helpful. I feel like I have a plan of attack now instead of groping in the dark.
To put it in context for you- when I left home it was a typical winter week, low 20s celsius and occasional rain, and landed in london to summer temps in the low 20s with occasional rain. So if the UK summer is like winter back home… Im going to have some adapting to do 😛
Im so excited to be starting a new life here and it means so much to have you all offer so much advice. If you know anyone in the Bristolish area who might want to befriend a girly punk and her comedian bf, or you just want to keep an eye out for pictures of me trying out winter fashion and seeing if I can actually survive the winter, you can find me on instagram as misslinadee. Feel free to get in contact. You guys are awesome!
Welcome to the UK. I’m sure you’ve got loads of advice here, but speaking as a fellow immigrant (from Zimbabwe to the south coast), weather appropriate gear is amazing! Our winters were the equivalent of UK summers, so it’s taken a lot of time to aclimatise. Buy slowly and seasonally, often you can pick up a deal or two at the end of a season or mid-season (obviously this only helps when you know you can survive the current season). We get particularly windy down here, so umbrellas are out, but ear-muffs are life-savers in winter (especially if the wind gives you head/ear-aches), lots of scarves, waterproof (and maybe lined boots – I live in my docs). Have a look at tkmaxx and outdoor shops for waterproof coats etc – there’s often something that looks ok in the highstreet shops, but I’ve found coats and jackets designed to be worn outdoors while hiking etc are better at keeping the rain out. We’re only starting to go into autumn-ish weather, so I also have a bunch of faux leather jackets that are warm, can layer a thin hoodie underneath and keep the wind out and tights are so much warmer and quicker drying that jeans or trousers, I have an assortment of 20-400 denier tights, which are cosy with a dress or skirt. And it might seem counter-intuitive, because I struggled with it for ages – but oversized and chunky doesn’t always equal the most warm or dry. Good luck. Oh and get some weather proofing spray for your waterproofs (from coats to trainers) after washing, never tumble-dry them or use conditioner as it seems to destroy the waterproofing, and get dubbin for leather boots, I think you can find it in an outdoors shop like Mountain Warehouse, or a shoe cobblers. Good luck.
Bristol – good choice! Keep your eyes peeled in case Matt’s running his annual MattSetbackstock in January (birthday/club/gig-fest) – it’s free & fun. Personally my winter staples are ankle boots and scarves.
I’m Canadian and my favourite cold weather item is wool socks! I swear they keep my toes nice and cozy while I am out and about. The nice thing about them is you can layer them! I’ve often worn wool socks over regular socks (plus the wool socks with the coloured band look super cute with boots!).
Invest in a good jacket, one that will hold up. I recently bought a wool winter coat, and while it’s a thinner jacket, it keeps me pretty warm. I also have one that I got from Columbia last year. It’s very thin and it packs really well (I can scrunch it up and fit it in my purse!), but it’s super warm! I bought the longer style because I feel it keeps me warmer.
Long sleeve shirts are also great, even if they are just cotton. They will keep you much warmer when layered under a jacket. You can layer them under a jacket, or if you are really cold under a sweater then a jacket on top.
Leggings are also one of my go-to items because they can be worn by themselves or worn under pants if you are really cold. They even make leggings now that have fleece in them for extra warmth.
Buy a big soft scarf. You can wrap it around your face and head if it’s particularly cold or windy, and it’s easy to take off once you get inside. Plus bigger ones will keep the rain or snow from soaking you through or getting down your neck. Layers are your friend. Focus on sweaters and such that are easy to take off, especially because inside buildings there should be heat.
My favorite piece for varying climates is a rugged coat I have — it has a waterproof shell that actually zips off the puffy, warm liner. It’s great because the shell can be a perfect fall raincoat and then I zip the liner back in once it’s colder.
I’m actually in the opposite boat (originally from a very cold climate, now I just moved to California!) so I’m trying to pare down my wardrobe. Good luck!